Dynamic Finite Element Analysis of Rolling Non-Pneumatic Tire

Abstract

This research aimed to develop a dynamic finite element (FE) model of non-pneumatic tire (NPT) to study the mechanical behaviors of rolling NPT. The generalized Maxwell’s viscoelastic material was combined with linear elastic material model. This material model was fitted with results of tensile and compressive testing on actual NPT specimen. The FE model of rolling NPT on curvature and flat surface under supporting load of 14 kN and speed of 11 km/hr were carried out to compare with the actual experiment of rolling NPT on drum testing machine. The high-speed video camera was used to capture NPT’s spoke deformation at various angular position corresponding to time. The comparison results shown good agreement between the actual experiment and both FE models, which yielded average error of 3.68 and 3.89% for FE model of rolling NPT on drum and flat surface, respectively. The maximum dynamic values of impact force, displacement, and stress were higher than static values of 1.06, 1.16 and 1.805 times, respectively. Finally, the limitation of rolling NPT’s performance on flat plate was analyzed. The shear stress between shear band and spoke under maximum load of 20 kN and velocity of 15 km/hr was found at 1.7277 MPa.